What is all the fuss about Functional Decomposition?
WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL DECOMPOSITION
Functional decomposition is the process of continuously and methodically breaking down a large problem or opportunity into manageable components. It is hierarchical based which allows the components to be broken down but also rolled back up. This allows us to allocate components to different delivery teams and allows us to scale, track and measure delivery.
FUNCTIONAL DECOMPOSITION AND BUSINESS AGILITY
Functional decomposition is the foundation of Business Agility. No matter which Industry framework you reference; SAFe, Scrum, LeSS…they all have one thing in common. They require the team/s to be able to break down the problem or opportunity into smaller batches which can incrementally flow through a continuous delivery pipeline.
WHEN IS FUNCTIONAL DECOMPOSITION APPLIED
Functional decomposition is incrementally applied throughout the lifecycle of delivery and are incrementally broken down. The level of decomposition should be just in time and align with the decisions that need to be made at that point within the lifecycle.
HAS IT BEEN STANDARDISED ACROSS THE INDUSTRY?
The short answer is no. Different frameworks recommend different hierarchies. Tools may also reinforce different hierarchies. It is not important to standardise across the industry, IT IS important to standardise within your ecosystem.
WHAT TECHNIQUES ARE USED TO FUNCTIONALLY DECOPOSE
There are numerous techniques which can be applied to functionally decompose and it depends upon the level you need to get to. Some examples are User Journeys, Process Models, Roles and Goals, Story Maps,
HOW HARD IS IT TO FUNCTIONALLY DECOMPOSE
Its pretty hard and often under valued. If you are going to invest in uplift of capability across your workforce, functional decomposition techniques are a game changer.
It will allow you continuously assess value to agree and deliver MVP
It will ensure you do not lose sight of why you are delivering an individual component
It will ensure completeness of the delivery so that the end to end journey is seamlessly transformed
It will ensure that necessary teams are engaged, delivering and operating as a system
If you would like to understand more about functional decomposition, contact us at Hello@ideaologyconsulting.com.au